Article holding clamp



Oct. 21, 1958 R. E. TwoHlcs` ARTICLE HOLDING CLAMP Filed June l5. 1956 Ric/20rd E. Two/)fg A INI/EN TOR.

United States Patent Olitice 2,856,660 ARTICLE HLDING CLAMP Richard E. Twohig, Sioux City, Iowa Application June 1S, 1956, Serial No. 591,648 2 Claims. (Cl. l24-67) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders, generally speaking, and has more particular reference to one which serves to grip and clamp sheets of paper, articles of stationery, cloth and the like together in systematic and readily accessible and usable form.

More specifically, the invention pertains to a clamp which takes the form of a spring-type butt or similar hinge, the same being characterized by a pair of llat leaves or plates having adjacent edges hingedly connected by a knuckle joint, the leaves being normally pressed together under the influence and action of a coil spring and having suitably arranged gripping elements, such as spurs, which may penetrate the sheets of paper in a manner to keep the same in tablet-like arrangement.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing hinge-like article clamps and, in so doing, to provide a construction in which manufacturers will nd their manufacturing requirements and economies satisfactorily taken care of and users will nd their everyday ling and similar office needs eectually met.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the knuckle joint is novelly constructed in that it comprises exposed plates having inner and outer tubular knuckles nested together in hinging and connecting relationship, the outer one of said knuckles having a` projecting tongue formed with an S-shaped cam slot into which an actuating and camming pin projects and slides from end to end, said pin being carried by a plunger mounted for reciprocation in the inner knuckle.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative, but not restrictive, drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View partly in section and partly in elevation taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the jawlike plates or leaves spread apart;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing all of the components which go to make up the improved clamp; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view or parts by itself.

Referring now to the drawings and for example to Fig. 6 one component is denoted by the numeral S and this comprises a substantially at leaf or plate 10 of general rectangular form having penetrating and retaining prongs or spurs 12 thereon. Obviously, however, these spurs may be otherwise constructed to serve the intended article penetrating and retaining purpose. Along the opof one of the hinge plates `posite longitudinal edge there is a substantially semi- 2,856,660 Patented Oct. 21, 1958 veniently called a bearing and of the plunger into rotary motion for the plate 10.

The invention provides a simple, economical and practical hinge-like article holding clamp which is mechanically operable but manually controllable. It provides a construction which, it is believed, aptly serves the purposes for which it is intended. It is therefore thought to constitute an advance in the art to which it relates.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. modications and changes will readily occur to those operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. An article holding clamp comprising a pair of companion plates provided on inner opposed surfaces with article penetrating, gripping and retaining elements, one plate being provided along one marginal edge with a comarginal edge with a co-extensive inner knuckle, said inner knuckle being nested for angular rotation in said outer knuckle and being provided in its median portion with a cam slot and also being elo-sed at one end and open at the opposite end, a coil spring located in said inner knckle and bearing at one end against said closed end, a hollow plunger telescoping into and slidable in said inner knuckle, an adjacent portion of said spring projecting into said plunger, said first named outer knuckle being provided with a tongue, said second named plate having an opening therein and said tongue extending through said opening into and conforming with and contacting said cam slots, said inner knuckle being elongated and of a inner knuckle, said tongue having a cam slot registering length corresponding to the length of the plate which with the first named cam slot, and said plunger being procarries it, said inner knuckle being closed at one end, and vided with a lateral pin fixed at one end to the plunger open at the opposite end, said plunger being of hollow and having its opposite end extending through the cam 5 form, and a coil spring having a portion confined in the slots. hollow portion of said plunger, and having another por- 2. An article holding clamp comprising a pair of option confined and operable in said inner knuckle and in posed companion plates having article penetrating and A engagement with the closed end of said inner knuckle. gripping elements on their opposed inner faces, corresponding edges of said plates having an inner tubular 10 References Cited in the file of this patent knuckle confined and mounted for rotation Within an outer tubular knuckle, the respective knuckles having reg- UNITED STATES PATENTS istering cam slots, a plunger mounted for reciprocation 307,028 Durand Oct. 21, 1884 in said inner knuckle and having one end normally prol5 1,981,296 Woodruff Nov. 20, 1934 jecting beyond adjacent ends of both of said knuckles Where it is thus adapted to be manually pressed, said FOREIGN PATENTS plunger being provided intermediate its ends with an out- 15,027 Great Britain 1904 standing lixedly mounted pin and said pin being extended 636,291 Germany Oct. 6, 1936 through and being simultaneously cooperatable with the 

